Just built a 1 acre pond with an average depth of 7-8ft max depth of 15ft. I will not be aerating the pond nor will I be feeding, the pond is located in Southeast Iowa. I have 2 large trees that I put in the deepest part and anchored down also, I've placed some cedar trees in roughly 8-12ft of water. I have put in roughly 20 pallets and made 2 rock beds that are roughly 20x20. The rock beds were made from 2" rock and have some hedge posts anchored in and around them. also I have put in a 45x45 swim beach covered in sand and 3 piles of rip rap in various depths. Also I have made a few tire beds in about 6ft of water. Lastly I have made a few PVC habitats and milk crate habitats.
My pond is clay lined with no spring and not a lot of run off. During construction I had the dozer man leave a few mounds of clay in the deep areas and I also had him cut some nice shelves and drop offs into the banks.
My question is I'm trying to come up with a stocking plan and would like to see SMB, YP, CC, and Walleye in the pond . What forage fish would be best suited for this set-up? Can this mix even work well?
The CC I plan on taking out everyone I catch to eat and the walleye just in as a bonus fish. What numbers of fish would be recommended? And what kind of order should I stock?
My original thoughts were to put in fathead minnows, crawdads, and red ears or bluegill as my forage. I kbow this is a lot of rambling but need some help. Thanks in advance!!

Hopefully the experts will be along here shortly with recommendations.

My pond is just south of yours near Hannibal MO. I stocked GSH as an additional forage fish along with a lot of FHM. I've still got lots of both in my pond. Along is a lot of YP, SMB, RES, and some HSB. I added a few HBG later they are multiplying also.
So far so good. The SMB are a blast to catch. I haven't kept any yet.
The HSB appear to be pretty big, but are proving near impossible to catch. The YP have spawned, are plentiful and delicious.
The guys here are great about quantities per acre. I'm really glad I went with this stocking plan vs the BG, LMB, CC stocking plan that my Missouri Conservation Agent was proposing.

will my yellow perch provide much forage for my other fish? Or do I have to put in the bluegill also?

Hopefully the experts will jump in here soon with stocking recommendations.
I personally would do as much research as possible before stocking BG. My HBG got big fast, and are reproducing. I don't have solid proof that they are really expanding, but I'm seeing a lot of young and old HBG. I don't think my HSB and SMB can keep up..
I also have RES, and I don't think they are as "prolific" as BG.

I would stock forage first and give them a year. It is the most productive advice I was ever given when starting our 1 acre pond.

Crayfish will do very well in the rip rap. Our common shiners can keep up if not populate faster then the perch can eat them. Fatheads only lasted two years. Mind you we still have some but nothing like that common shiners.

Hi Tommy and welcome to the forum. Sorry I don't have time to post on the Forum these days, but I do manage many SMB/WE fisheries [two of them on my acreage] and am happy to help in any manner possible. Little tricky managing cool water species fish in the Midwest, but certainly can be done and with tremendous results, just too much to relate here. Feel free to ping me anytime and I can relate a month worth of posting in a 20 minute call.

TJ Hudson
tj@hudlandmgmt.com
402.730.4897

I would recommend taking TJ up on that call. I am really glad I gave him a call myself several years back.

I agree. TJ has been very helpful to me over the last few years.

I will absolutely take him up on that offer! I will be posting some pics soon . Been busy seeding the dam.

Buddy where have you been! Check in more often - need updates on your progress!